Refrigerator car construction



10, 1942. c, D, ONSALL 2,275,721

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor.- ilzarlasflfiansall "1 0, 1942. c. D. BONSALL REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

01": C/zarlas JZBansaZl invent arch 10, 1942. c. D. 'BONSALL 2,275,71

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCT ION March 10, 1942. c, D, BONSALL REFRIGERATOR OAR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 8, 1940 l v A? [n uenzor Charles 0.1307254 ll fii'torne Patented Mar. 10, 1942 REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Charles D. Bonsall, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Railway Devices Company, a

corporation of Delaware Application January s, 1940, Serial No. 312,852

15 Claims.

The invention relates to railway rolling stock and more particularly to so-called refrigerator cars which are used to transport perishable commodities, such as vegetables, fruits, berries, frozen foods and fish. Such commodities must be maintained at a substantially even temperature to avoid decay. Heat or refrigeration is applied to the commodity while in transit, depending upon the weather. Certain commodities (such as potatoes and oranges) generate heat and gases which must be removed by ventilation. A railway car, therefore, to haul perishable commodities must be arranged to cool, heat or ventilate the commodity while in the car. This applies, of course, if the car is running or standing still.

Various fruits, such as oranges from California and Florida, apples from Washington and Oregon, and Various vegetables from Salton Sea in California, Colorado, Illinois and Georgia are loaded into the refrigerator cars and shipped; i. e., the cars actually start moving with destination unknown and without any consignee. To facilitate selling the commodity While enroute grades for quality have been established. Units for volume have also been established by adoption of a standard size box for each fruit and the size of the fruit is designated by the number of that fruit in the box (which is stencilled on each box) and the number of such boxes which can be loaded in a standard size refrigerator car is a unit. To be more specific, the inside dimensionsof a conventional refrigerator car are approximately 40' long; 8' 3" wide and'l 0" high and an ice bunker is positioned at each end of the car so that the loading space between the bunkers is about 33 feet. Such a car will hold and refrigerate 462 boxes of oranges or 420 boxes of lemons from California and such number of boxes constitutes a unit of the specific fruit of a known grade and size.

When the owner (usually through a cooperative association) sells his fruit the shipment is diverted while enroute to the purchaser. It requires approximately seven days to transport fruit from California to Chicago; ten days to New York and twelve days to Boston and this system allows the owner to take advantage of changing market conditions.

If the commodity is not sold enroute it is consigned to one of the several perishable commodity auction markets in the larger cities where it is sold before it becomes unusable.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a refrigerator car that will hold and refrigerate more than an established unit of lading which shall include means to segregate one unit from the remainder of the load so that said unit may be loaded and unloaded without disturbing the remainder of the load. The said remainder may be another unit.

Another object is to relate the doorway in'the side wall of the car and the partition so that the car may be loaded through said doorway to either side of the partition and to provide two doors in the doorway which meet, when closed, at the partition so that either door may be closed and sealed independently of the other door and thereby prevent pilfering from one compartment while loading or unloading the other compartment.

Another object is to provide an insulated partition so that the commodities on opposite sides of the partition may be maintained at different temperatures. Another object is to provide such insulated partition with vertical flues which direct cooled air from a ceiling refrigerant to adjacent the floor of the car.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational section through a refrigerator car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan section through the car on line 22- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the central part of Fig. 1 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified construction.

A refrigerator car has a roof 2, floor 4, spaced apart end walls 6, and spaced apart side walls 8. Each side wall 8 is comprised of a side sill ID; a side plate ll; substantially vertical posts I2 extending therebetween and secured thereto; sheathing l4 secured to the posts l2 and also extending between the side sill I0 and side plate II and inner lining l6 spaced inwardly from the sheathing l4. Substantially horizontal angles [8 extending longitudinally of the car are secured to the Vertical posts l2 and are disposed between the sheathing l4 and lining l6. Blocks I 9 of wood, or other insulating material, are mounted upon the angles l8. Brackets 20 disposed interior of the lining l6 and secured to the blocks I9 by bolts 22, and also preferably supported by substantially horizontal flanges 24, are provided to support the refrigerant containers. A plurality of containers 26 are preferably provided below the roof 2; each of said containers having angles 28 secured thereto, which angles extend transversely of the car and are secured at their ends to the brackets 29. The floor 4 of the car is comprised of a sub-floor 39 which extends between the side sills lil and is preferably supported by parts of the car underframe which are not shown in the drawings. The main floor 3| is disposed above the sub-floor 30 and supported by the stringers 33; insulation 34 is interposed between the main floor 3I and sub-floor 38. Floor racks 36 preferably comprising transversely extending spaced apart slats 33 supported by longitudinally extending stringers 39 are supported by the main floor 3I.

One form of partition 44 is shown in Figs. l-3. As shown in Fig. l, transversely extending anchor members 45, 46 are secured one (45) to the roof structure, and the other (46) to the floor structure. A pair of spaced apart metallic plates 48 provided with substantially vertical corrugations 50 extend between and are secured to the anchor members 45, 45, the corrugations functioning as beams between said anchor members. Insulation 52 is preferably interposed between the corrugated plates 48. A lining 53 is spaced from each plate 49 exterior thereof. by blocks 55 to provide vertically extending flues 56 between the plates 48 and the lining 53. The vertically extending corrugations provide spaces 59 which increase the area of the flue and function to guide the circulating air flowing in a vertical direction. The partition 44, therefore divides the car into two lading compartments 59, each between the partition 44 and one of the end walls 6 of the car.

Fig. 1 shows the preferred arrangement of refrigerant containers 25 in which the containers are disposed one on each side of the partition 44 and another (56) adjacent each end wall 6 of the car. below the containers. The drip pans 69 below the containers 66 adjacent the ends 6 of the car are sloped downwardly toward the end walls 6 and the drip pans I9 below the containers 65 adjacent the partition 44 are sloped downwardly toward the partition 44. Vertical fiues I2 are provided in the end walls 6, preferably between the paneled flue sheets I4 and the lining I6, which flues are open at both top and bottom. Air circulation in each lading compartment 59 is from the refrigerant containers 65, 66 downwardly through the vertical flues I2, 56 associated with the end wall 6 and with the partition 44 into the space H below the floor. racks 36 upwardly through the lading compartment 59, thereby cooling the lading, and finally back to the refrigerant containers 65, 65 through the air inlet openings I9. The air inlet openings I9 are disposed at a higher level than the discharge openings 66 into the vertical flues I2, 56. Gutters 82 extending transversely of the car may be provided below each of the vertical flues I2, 56 to retain moisture flowing through said fiues, which moisture may be due to condensation upon the cold refrigerant containers 26 or overflow of liquid refrigerant therefrom. Hatches 83 are provided in the roof 2 of the car for loading refrigerant into the containers 26.

A relatively large doorway 98 is provided in each side wall 8 of the car and is defined by Drip pans 68 are provided the spaced apart door posts 89. Other posts 9!, which preferably form vertical edges of the partition 44, are disposed substantially in the middle of the doorways 89, thereby dividing said doorways into two parts 92. Each lading compartment 59 may, therefore, be entered through one of the parts 92 of each doorway 88. A door 94 is provided to close each of the parts 92 of each doorway 88, each door 94 preferably being hinged to a door post 89 and sealed by means of resilient padding against the post 9|. Means are preferably provided to lock and seal each door 92 independently of any other door so that the lading in one compartment 59 may be unloaded at one destination, while the lading in the other compartment may be safely carried a greater distance and unloaded at another destination or at a subsequent time at the same destination.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the door post I69 at the middle of thedoorway is preferably reinforced by the metallic channelshaped member I9I which extends between and is secured to the side plate II and side sill III. A metallic plate I62 provided with substantially horizontal corrugations I94 extends between and is secured to the posts I90. Flue sheets I66 having inwardly projecting panels IIi'I are disposed in spaced relation to the corrugated plate I92 on each side thereof and insulation I68 is interposed between the corrugated plate I92 and each of the flue sheets I96. Lining III] is secured adjacent the flue sheets I66 to form the vertical lines III between the lining III) and the panels I91. The flues III function as heretofore described in reference to Figs. 1-3. In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the partition H5 is likewise formed of spaced apart metallic plates 48 having vertical corrugations with the lining 53 spaced from the plates 48 to form vertical flues 55 on each side of the partition II5. In Figs. 1-3 the posts 9| are shown with the exterior sides II6 thereof substantially flush with the outer planes of the car side walls 8. In Fig. 6 the outer side II8 of the post H9 is disposed inwardly a substantial distance from the outer plane of the car side wall 8. The doors II'I have inner parts I20 arranged to form a seal when forced against the post I I9 and other outer parts I22 arranged to form a seal with the other door. Such an arrangement facilitates the transporting of lading into the lading compartments 59 by providing a larger opening for a given size door.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art. 4 I

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor, spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls, a doorway in at least one of said side walls remote from said end walls, a partition arranged to divide the interior of the car into two compartments and including as a structurally integral part thereof a vertically extending member in said doorway adjacent the center thereof thereby dividing the doorway into two parts each providing access from the exterior of the car to one of said compartments, means to refrigerate said compartments, and door means arranged to ber in said doorway adjacent the center thereof thereby dividing the doorway into two parts each providing access from the exterior of the car to one of :said compartments, means to refrigerate either of said compartments independently of the other, and door means arranged to close said doorway and engage said member when in closed position.

3. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor, spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide said car into a pair of lading compartments, a doorway leading to each of said compartments, foraminous racks arranged to support the lading upon said floor and provide spaces therebetween, refrigerant containers below said roof, means cooperating with said roof and end walls to form enclosures for certain of said containers, other means cooperating with said roof and said partition to form enclosures for others of said containers, air inlet openings to said enclosures, and means cooperating with said partition and said end walls to form flues arranged to communicate between said enclosures and said spaces.

4. In a refrigerator car having a roof, fioor, spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide said car into a pair of lading compartments, a doorway leading to each of said compartments, foraminous racks arranged to support the lading upon said floor and provide spaces therebetween, refrigerant containers below said roof on each side of said partition and adjacent each of said end walls, means cooperating with said roof and isaid partition to form enclosures for.the containers adjacent the partition, other means cooperating with said roof and said end walls to form enclosures for the containers adjacent the end walls, air inlet openings to said enclosures, and means cooperating with said partition and said end walls to form flues arranged to communicate between said enclosures and said spaces.

5. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor,

spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls, a doorway in each of said side walls, vertically extending members in said doorways to provide two parts thereof, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said members to divide said car into a pair of lading corrugations extending substantially. between said members, :flue sheets having inwardly projecting panels disposed in spaced relation to said .plate 'on each side thereof, insulation between said sheets and said plate and lining exterior of said flue sheets to form .said flues between said lining and said panels.

7. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said partition comprises a metallic plate having vertically extending corrugations extending substantially between said'floor and said roof, and lining disposed adjacent said plate in flatwise relation thereto to form said flues between the lining and the plate.

8. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said partition comprises spaced apart metallic plates having vertically extending corrugations extending substantially between said floor and said roof, insulation between said plates and lining disposed adjacent said plates in fiatwise relation thereto to form said flues between the lining and the plate.

9. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor, spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls, a doorway in at least one of said side walls remote from said end walls, a structurally integral partition arranged to divide the interior of the car into two compartments and including a vertically extending member in said doorway adjacent the center thereof thereby dividing the doorway into two parts each providing access from the exterior of the car to one of said compartments, means to refrigerate said compartments, and door means arranged to close said doorway, said member extending substantially to the outer plane of the side wall and engaging at leasta part of said door means.

'10. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said member is disposed inwardly of the exterior plane of the side wall and said door means are arranged to seal against said member and against each other.

11. In combination with the roof, floor, side walls and end walls of a refrigerator car, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide the car into a pair of lading compartments, a doorway leading to each of said compartments, foraminous racks arranged to support the lading upon said floor and provide spaces therebetween, means cooperating with said partition and end walls to form flues communicating at their lower ends with said spaces, and means to direct refrigerated air into the upper parts of said fiues.

12. In combination with the roof, floor, side walls and end walls of a refrigerator car, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide the car into a pair of lading compartments, foraminous racks arranged to support; the lading upon said floor and provide spaces therebetween, means cooperating with said partition and end Walls to form flues communicating at their lower ends with said spaces, and refrigerating means in the upper part of the car arranged to receive air from the upper parts of said lading compartments, refrigerate the air and direct the refrigerated air into the upper parts of said flues.

13. In combination with the roof, floor, side walls and end walls of a refrigerator car, a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide the car into a pair of lading compartments, a doorway leading to each of said compartments, foraminous racks arranged to support the lading upon said fioor and provide spaces therebetween, means cooperating with said partition and end walls to form fiues communicating at their lower ends with said spaces, refrigerating means below the roof and adjacent said end walls and said partition, and means to direct air cooled by said refrigerating means into the upper parts of said fiues.

14. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor, spaced apart end walls and spaced apart side walls, the combination of a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide the car into a pair of lading compartments, means providing access to each of said compartments from the exterior of the car, and means to direct refrigerated air into said compartments from said partition toward said end walls and from said end wall toward said partition.

15. In a refrigerator car having a roof, floor, spaced apart end walls and spaced apart side walls, the combination of a substantially vertical partition extending substantially between said side walls to divide the car into a pair of lading compartments, means providing access to each of said compartments from the exterior of the car, foraminous racks arranged to support the lading upon said floor and provide spaces therebetween, and means to direct refrigerated air into said spaces from said partition toward said end walls and from said end walls toward said partition.

CHARLES D. BONSALL. 

